‘COME AWAY, MY BELOVED’
Opening Prayer
Jesus, I accept Your invitation to come away with You. Meet me here and speak to my heart.
Read Song of Songs 7:7b-8:14
7 Your stature is like that of the palm,
and your breasts like clusters of fruit.
8 I said, “I will climb the palm tree;
I will take hold of its fruit.”
May your breasts be like clusters of grapes on the vine,
the fragrance of your breath like apples,
9 and your mouth like the best wine.
She
May the wine go straight to my beloved,
flowing gently over lips and teeth.[a]
10 I belong to my beloved,
and his desire is for me.
11 Come, my beloved, let us go to the countryside,
let us spend the night in the villages.[b]
12 Let us go early to the vineyards
to see if the vines have budded,
if their blossoms have opened,
and if the pomegranates are in bloom—
there I will give you my love.
13 The mandrakes send out their fragrance,
and at our door is every delicacy,
both new and old,
that I have stored up for you, my beloved.
8 If only you were to me like a brother,
who was nursed at my mother’s breasts!
Then, if I found you outside,
I would kiss you,
and no one would despise me.
2 I would lead you
and bring you to my mother’s house—
she who has taught me.
I would give you spiced wine to drink,
the nectar of my pomegranates.
3 His left arm is under my head
and his right arm embraces me.
4 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you:
Do not arouse or awaken love
until it so desires.
Friends
5 Who is this coming up from the wilderness
leaning on her beloved?
She
Under the apple tree I roused you;
there your mother conceived you,
there she who was in labor gave you birth.
6 Place me like a seal over your heart,
like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death,
its jealousy[c] unyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire,
like a mighty flame.[d]
7 Many waters cannot quench love;
rivers cannot sweep it away.
If one were to give
all the wealth of one’s house for love,
it[e] would be utterly scorned.
Friends
8 We have a little sister,
and her breasts are not yet grown.
What shall we do for our sister
on the day she is spoken for?
9 If she is a wall,
we will build towers of silver on her.
If she is a door,
we will enclose her with panels of cedar.
She
10 I am a wall,
and my breasts are like towers.
Thus I have become in his eyes
like one bringing contentment.
11 Solomon had a vineyard in Baal Hamon;
he let out his vineyard to tenants.
Each was to bring for its fruit
a thousand shekels[f] of silver.
12 But my own vineyard is mine to give;
the thousand shekels are for you, Solomon,
and two hundred[g] are for those who tend its fruit.
He
13 You who dwell in the gardens
with friends in attendance,
let me hear your voice!
She
14 Come away, my beloved,
and be like a gazelle
or like a young stag
on the spice-laden mountains.
Footnotes
- Song of Songs 7:9 Septuagint, Aquila, Vulgate and Syriac; Hebrew lips of sleepers
- Song of Songs 7:11 Or the henna bushes
- Song of Songs 8:6 Or ardor
- Song of Songs 8:6 Or fire, / like the very flame of the Lord
- Song of Songs 8:7 Or he
- Song of Songs 8:11 That is, about 25 pounds or about 12 kilograms; also in verse 12
- Song of Songs 8:12 That is, about 5 pounds or about 2.3 kilograms
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
When and how did you make your commitment to Christ?The drama is reaching its resolution. In response to her lover’s praise and courtship, she commits herself to him alone (‘stored up for you,’ 7:13). Of course, as throughout these poems, the symbolic language is romantic and sensual. Yet its inclusion in Scripture allows us to ask ourselves how committed we are in our relationship with Jesus – how does our living demonstrate that we ‘belong’ to Him (7:10)?
Her words continue from the man’s earlier description (7:1–9): all that is precious and special about her she offers to him (7:9,10,13). She longs for the day when their love can be declared in public (8:1–4). Her friends’ refrain (8:4; 2:7) hints that it will be soon: they see the couple together, approaching their wedding (8:5; 6:10).
So, to the moments of declaration. Their relationship is sealed with the ring of their strong love (8:6). Like God’s love for His own people, they will guard it jealously (Exodus 20:5). Their love is an unquenchable fire (8:6,7). No longer a child (8:8–12), the woman makes a mature decision: she gives herself to this exclusive and loving relationship. Like our Christian commitments today, it is witnessed and celebrated within their loving community (8:13).
Apply
Called away from the everyday world to relationship with Jesus, let’s celebrate His exquisite gifts of joy and love as we commit ourselves to Him (8:14). How will you say ‘Yes’ to Jesus today?
Closing prayer
Jesus, I celebrate You – all that You are and the wondrous things You have done in my life.
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